It had been spotted in the mangroves by beachgoers who were walking over a boardwalk that leads to the beach.

Authorities darted the animal with a tranquilizer, checked its health and determined it was in good condition. The male panther was about two years old and weight over 100 pounds.

“This panther was far from an area where we would typically see these animals, so we decided to relocated it to a more suitable habitat for its own health and safety, “ said Darrell Land, the wildlife agency's FWC panther team leader. “We are thankful to the people who noticed this unusual situation and quickly reported it to us so that we could respond.”

Biologists will be able to monitor the panther this time by using a radio collar.